I have a question for all of you who have been debating the smoking issue. Which substance do you think is the most difficult to quit, tobacco, alcohol, or heroin?

Someone who has kicked or attempted to kick all three would have the best answer to that one.

I believe Heroin and then Alcohol present the hardest and most dangerous withdrawal symptoms. And I know Heroin is the most dangerous to the system in the aspect that Heroin addiction can be passed on to a unborn child and that child will go through withdrawals once it is born.

But this is just my thoughts on the matter. I agree with Cris that the best answer will probably come from one who has experienced this.

The addictive part of cigarettes is nicotine, but it's the tar, carbon monoxide and other nasty things that damage the smoker's health. It is therefore possible to use nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum) to reduce the nicotine dose gradually, while instantly stopping the bad elements. Quitting is not at all easy, but 'cold turkey' is not the only way.

With alcohol addiction, however, 'cold turkey' is the only way. There's no alcohol replacement therapy. On the face of it, therefore, the demon drink should be more difficult to give up. However, an alcoholic who reaches his rock bottom, accepts that he needs help and asks for it is so full of self-disgust that he can accept that he must change his life. He is able to make the sacrifice. The smoker has no such self-disgust and is not so deadly frightened of failing. This could be one reason why so many weaken and go back to smoking.

I have no experience of heroin, but the health professionals who ran the Quit group I attended said nicotine addiction was as strong as heroin addiction - for what that's worth!

When I was in a smoking-cessation program that was sponsored thru a local hospital in conjuction with the American Lung Institute, the RN conducting the class told us that kicking smoking is right up there with a heroin addiction.

With any addiction, whether physical or mental, I think the hardest part is kicking that addiction emotionally...drugs, nicotine, alcohol, compulsive disorders, etc.

The physical need will wane, but it's the psychological addiction that is the hardest.

That's where support groups like AA, GA, etc are so helpful!

I found cigarettes to be the most difficult over any drug or alcohol.I've quit 5x's and I'm back to it. Course, I only used heroin twice so I don't think I was addicted to it.It took me 2 yrs to finally stop drinking.I will do everything possible to never pick up again.

I have never tried heroin. But, I found how easy it was to quit drinking and smoking. When my wife went to alcohol rehab, I was also drinking. Since she had to stop for her health and join AA, I figured it would make it easier for her if I just stopped drinking. Now, I was a heavy drinker and drank every day for about30 years. But quitting came easily. No withdrawl, just the desire to stop. Have never missed not taking a drink. I quit in 1986. Now the smoking part. I smoked for 35 years. I smoked the "macho" cigarette, Camels non filter. Four packs a day. One day I got pneumonia and had a chest x-ray and my doctor found a spot on my lung. The surgeon went and took a sample for testing. It came back negative. But, he asked me the same day, John, why don't you just quit smoking? And by golly, that sunk into my brain and never left. I had a couple of days of discomfort, but that was it. That was in 1988, and I've been smoke free ever since. I am one of those fortunate souls with the ability to quit both the booze and the cigarettes with no problems. Wow, you got me going. Sorry about being so long winded. By the wasy I'm 64 years old.

Mr Velo, I have respect for you for giving up the booze to assist your wife in attaining a healthful status. You are very fortunate to have so easily stopped such addictive substances, I know many would envy you. I, myself, have never drank much (never really wanted to) or smoked or done drugs so I really can't know what you are going through in this regard. My personal addiction is food, and the problem with this addiction is I HAVE to do it to survive.. making correct choices is almost as hard, I'd say, as giving up other types of substances. I continue to work on my addiction, and I am sending out Zen Support Waves to those who want to quit theirs.

Ms. Sherasi, thanks for the reply. I am not going through any discomforts after quitting. Never did. I just told myself (self talk) that I could not drink or smoke anymore. For me that's all it took. Like I said, I am one of those very fortunate people who can quit easily. By the way, Johnny Velo is a nickname I got from a friend when I rode a Velocette motorcycle back in the 60s. And please, just John will do. No Mr. OK?

[This message was edited by Johnny Velo on 08-04-02 at 06:15 PM.]

i don't know about heroin cause I promised I would never try any needle type drugs.
I've been smoking since the age of 12 and have quit for about 4 months tops. When I'm not smoking or I can't smoke and I want one i start to get fidgety, tapping my fingers on a desk or holding a pencil.
Alcohol, well I used to be real bad with it, I could drink a case a day easy a few years ago. I'd wake up roll out of bed and have a couple beers to start the day. but now I've cut back a lot. Cigarettes is the hardest for me.